End gate and retaining means therefor



April 22, 1930. B. A. SMITH END GATE AND RETAINING MEANS THEREFOR FiledApril 30, 1929 2; sneets sheet 1 Inventor Jar-f f7. (T /0% AttorneyApril 22-, 1930. B. A. SMITH END GATE AND RETAIIQING MEANS THEREFOR 2sheets-sheet 2 Filed April 30, 1929 Inventor v \Bf/ f (Pm/7% A iiome yPatented Apr. 22, 1930 PATENT oF -icE r nrA. SMITH, or FAYETT IOWA LENDA E Ann nnremmsivrnens rnnnnron Application filedIApril 30,

This invention relates to an improved end gate construction, and'complemental retaining means for securely holding the gate, in closedposition. I

Briefly stated, the Wagon body has its side walls equipped on theinteriorsurfaces with vertical and longitudinally spaced strips definingtherebetween keeper seats in which the end portions of the end gate arereceived. p i

The end gate is providedon its exterior side with vertical end cleatsand associated with these cleats and the side walls of thewagon body isa novel mechanical retaining structure which constitutes the principalnovelty V of the present invention.

In carrying the lnvention into actual practice, I have evolved andproduced what I believe to be a simplified: and dependablestructurecarried by the end gate and 'cooperable with the side walls ofthevehicle body in a manner to securely hold the gate in closed position. ac c The respective detailsand their particular relative association willbecome more readily apparent with the following description anddrawings. f

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of'the wagon bodyand end gate constructed in accordance with the invention showing theretaining device in locking position. V

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure seen in Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a detail view of the contractible and expansible take-up eFigure 4 is a transverse vertical section on anenlarged scale takenapproximately upon the plane of the line H of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional and plan view showing certainof the details. Figure 6 is an outside elevational view of the structureseenin Figure 5. c

As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the reference character 8 designatesgenerally the wagon body which includes the customary side walls 9. Asbefore indicated, these are provided on their inner sides with verticalside strips 10, spaced apart to provide keeper seats for removablereception of the end portions of the 1929. semi 110,359,284;

jacent the opposite ends and on its rear side with vertical cleats 12. 1,7

As seen in Figure 6, the reference character 13 designates a metallicwear disc having a verticalslot 14: formed therein. 'This slot registerswith similar slots formed in the parts 9 and 10. "Also as seen inF'igure 5, the disc 13 has a depression intersecting the slot andproviding a seat for reception of the'longitudinally adjustable bindingand retaining means. and is manually manipulated and is char acterizedprincipally by three distinguishable parts. For instance, as seen' inFigure 1, I provide a centrally disposed take-up device, generallydesignated by the reference character'15 and this is cooperable' at its,opposite ends with a pair of oscillatory and slidably'mounted rods 16'.Each rod 16extends through openings in the adjacent cleat $221 guidestrip 10 and side wall ofthe wagon o y. with a T-head 17, which iscooperable with the disc 13.; When in looking position, the headintersects the slot'and' is received in the depressed seat, as seen inFigure 5. When in releasing position, the head is turned away .toalignwith the slot14 topermit it tobe retracted through the opening in thecomplemental side wall 9, and the opening in the guide 10, when it isdrawn into the space 18 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. A

This rod is provided inwardly of the cleat '12 with a' combined weightand handle 19.

Obviously, when the handle 19 is swung down to' the position seen infull lines in adjacent its inner end with a stop collar or washer 20held in place by 'a cotter key. This I This means is of a mechanical"nature The rod is provided on its outer end end portion cooperates withthe take up device 15. The take up device is mounted on an appropriatebracket 21. Y

The description of the take up device 15 is reserved for this point tocall attention IOU " of variable construction.

For instance, as seen in the structure represented in Figures 1 and 2,the take up device comprises links 22, and 23, having their outer endsdirected upwardly as at 24 and apertured for passage of the adjacent endportions of the vcomplemental rods 16. Each link 22 passes through theoutstanding flange of the attaching bracket 21, as seenin Figure 1. Theadjacent ends of these two links are connected with operating lever 24.This lever has the handle portion terminating in a downwardly directedextremity 25. The opposite end portion is of forked construction asrepresented at. 26..

The forked arms are connected with th adjacent ends of the links as seenin Figure 3. The reference character 27 designates a retaining loop,which is slidable on the link 23 and cooperable-with the adjacent endportion of the lever 24. This functions as a retaining element. 7 I

a With this arrangement it is obvious that when the lever 24 is in theposition seen in Figure l, the adjacent end portions of the links 22 and23 are drawn into overlapping operating connection between the links 22and 23 with the rods 16 obviously serves to draw the rods toward eachother and to bind the T-heads 17 against the respective discs 13. This,therefore produces the desiredlocking action and maintains the en gatesecurely in closing position. When it is desired to remove the endboard, the loop 27 is slipped ofl of the lever. Then the lever is swungdownwardly. This extends the links 22 and .23 and allows freedom ofmovement of the respective rods 16. Then, the operator takes hold of thehandle 19 and rocks or oscillates the respective shaft 16 upwardly. Theneach shaft is pulled inwardly so that it assumes the dotted lineposition seen in Figure 1. It is then in releasing position and the endboard may he slipped out of'the keeper seats. f

. his structural arrangement facilitates placement and maintenance ofthe end gate.

By carefully considering the description in conjunction with thedrawings, a clear understanding of the construction and operation oftheinvention will'be had. Therefore a more lengthy description is regardedunnecessary. r 7

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details comingwithin the field its opposite ends with vertical cleats havinghorizontal holes formed therein, clamping rods slidable and rotatable insaid holes, the rods being provided at their outer ends with T-heads andadjacent their inner ends with stop collars, a handle mounted on theintermediate portionof each rod, a bracket on the intermediate portionof the end gate, a link slidably mounted on said bracket, a leverpivotally connected to said link, a second link pivotally connected tosaid lever, retaining means cooperable with the lever and the last namedlink, the outer end portions of said links being directed laterally andformed with openings for passage of the collar equipped ends of saidrods.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BERT A. SMITH.

of invention claimed may be resorted to, in

actual practice, if desired.

I claim: i In a structure of the class described, in combination, anendgate provided adjacent

